Ilinfer inclined her head in thanks as he offered her a bed. He spoke so carefully . . . was he afraid to wake them? She knew she would have to react fast. So perhaps it would be best for her to search for the guild leader of Astipor and talk to him. Before she could utter her thoughts Rhoynar already led the way up the stairs. Of course she couldn't decline!

Following the knight she had some trouble memorizing the way.  Distracted by all the splendor and riches around her the northern woman had no sense of how many stairs they ascended, how many corners they turned or in which direction the sea lay. When a door was opened for her she paused to run her fingers over the finely manufactured blossoms upon the wood. Then she entered, looking around. The room was as big as her entire home! At Rhoynar voice she turned. Silk! “I . . . ah . . .” She was speechless! Never would she have dreamed of entering let alone sleeping in a noble room such as this! When he took his leave she even missed wishing him a good night. And so she stood there, left alone in a room full of luxury she would never have in her life, full of the stuff she dreamt of when she had been but a girl, when her mother had still lived, when her father had first taught her to swing the blacksmiths hammer. Back then the world had been a different one around her. 

A moment of clarity then suddenly struck her. She had arrangements to make! And if the situation was a dire as Rhoynar  had made her believe she would have to act quickly! With a swift movement she emptied her travelers pouch on the bed. She had quite some equipment: daggers, rope, nails - some straight, some crooked and bent, a blanket, a small bowl, a spoon and knife, small pots with ointments against the most common ailments and the clothes she had been given in Astipor. Taking the daggers and leaving her cape she took a torch from the wall, extinguishing the rest with a swipe of her hand and then leaving the room. The fire guild, all sworn to Ardebit, were granted the power to extinguish non magical fire. 
It took the warrior some time to find a way out of the huge mansion, but eventually she stepped into the cool night air. Here the bustle of the city could not only be felt, but heard as well. She’d have to ask the knight in the morning what all the celebrations were about. 

It was easy to follow the small pictures of firecrests to a tavern called ‘The Singing Wale’. Entering she was greeted by stale are and glaring eyes. She looked around cautiously, all eyes on her, waiting. Illinfer breathed in deeply. So apparently they didn’t like strangers here. She lifted her hand and drew her talisman from under her blouse. It was then that she was greeted with kindness, offered food and drink and bade to sit. “I’m sorry, I really don’t have time for this. I need to talk to someone who can help me protect someone.” she said to the innkeeper who was just about ton pour her a cup of ale. He nodded with a smile and led her through the room to a secluded table that was surrounded by heavy drapes. There she sat, waiting. A man entered - he seemed to be in his mid thirties - and sat down opposite from her. His hair was of a light color, his eyes of a piercing blue. He wore normal clothes and had an air of authority about him. “I hear you need help?” he said in a silky voice, eying the woman from head to toe. The warrior straightened her back and smiled kindly. “I am Illinfer Blacksmith.” She extended her hand and the man clasped it with a nod. “Tor Jeweler, at your service. You want us to protect someone for you?”
“Yes. Well, my companion, to be precise. We are about to embark on a mission across the great sea and he worries greatly for his families safety.”
“I see . . . and is your companion part of our guild?”
“No. But he is my brother in arms for the next upcoming six months.” 
The man nodded and drew out a pipe from his belt. “You will be vouching for him?”
“No, he will pay your services. I am here to inquire the price and extent of the contract.”
Of course she was lying, but the man didn’t seem to care much and so they started negotiations. A few hours and two pitchers of ale later they had an agreement written out on paper. Rhoynar would only have to fill in his name and the people he wanted protected. Then Illinfer could bring the signed document back to Tor and the knights family would be closely watched and guarded by the guild until their return. If necessary the contract included a flight plan and extensive use of the guilds resources and network to hide the people up to a year. This way the whole family would just seemingly disappear, managing their affairs from the shadows until they had built a defense big enough that they could protect themselves at reemergence. 

Happy with herself Illinfer left the tavern and made her way back to Rhoynars mansion. There she managed to get hold of servant and asked him to show her to her room which she described to him. The boy didn’t believe her at first, bu after they had bet upon her belongings being on the bed in the described room he led her there, flipping her two silver coins when proven wrong and vanished grimly in the hallway. Illinfer sighed as she put her things aside and undressed. Naked as the gods had made her she lay down on the bed, pulling the wonderful silked cover over her body and closed her eyes. The smooth fabric slid over her skin with ease and made her tremble slightly. What an exiting day it had been. And a tiring one as well.With little of the night left she fell into a deep slumber filled with dreams of past and happy days.